I'm back and hope someone could be of some help. I am a non-trad AA female who worked 40+ hrs during college and I currently have a 3.2 lsac gpa with all As my last semester. I'm considering retaking classes (30 credits) that would boost it to 3.52 (I have a lot of Fs from some cc courses from back in 90 and early 2000 when I was in high school). I just retook the LSAT in June and earned a 163 (my Sept 07' LSAT was a 151). I will be retaking in September with a hope of at least 170 (I missed -5 in my first two sections and -16 in my last two in June).

So here are my questions:1) Is it crazy to retake these old classes? Would it hurt me more than help me in the eyes of the admissions people?2) What would be my chances at Harvard with a 3.52 and a 170+ LSAT? I believe I have some good softs (young parent, struggled to support family while in college, interesting work experience, very active in my community with interest in public interest law).

I'm set on Harvard because my husband is in school in Boston for the next 4 years and a long distance relationship with my two boys in tow is not an option. I'm not too keen on BU/BC because I am not sure if I want to stay in Boston after I'm done with law school.

1) Retake if you want. A 3.52 is significantly better than a 3.2. Nonetheless, you can also write an addendum explaining that those grades were earned in high school and that your college grades are a better indicator of your ability.

I'm back and hope someone could be of some help. I am a non-trad AA female who worked 40+ hrs during college and I currently have a 3.2 lsac gpa with all As my last semester. I'm considering retaking classes (30 credits) that would boost it to 3.52 (I have a lot of Fs from some cc courses from back in 90 and early 2000 when I was in high school). I just retook the LSAT in June and earned a 163 (my Sept 07' LSAT was a 151). I will be retaking in September with a hope of at least 170 (I missed -5 in my first two sections and -16 in my last two in June).

1) Did you already finish your B.A? If you did, you won't be able to retake any classes to count towards your LSAC GPA?2) Is the boost to a 3.52 counting both the Fs and if you were to get As in the new classes or replacing the old F grades? LSAC counts both the old and the new grade in your GPA calculation.

I calculated the 3.52 with new grades replacing the old Fs. Does LSAC still count the old grades if the updated transcript doesn't include the old grades? The policy of the cc is to completely erase the old grade.

I calculated the 3.52 with new grades replacing the old Fs. Does LSAC still count the old grades if the updated transcript doesn't include the old grades? The policy of the cc is to completely erase the old grade.

LSAC does not replace bad grades with newer superior grades.

If I were you, I'd say screw it. If you get a 170, you'll get into Harvard with your current GPA.

I suppose it depends. If you haven't finished your BA, then I think their policy is to use what's on the transcript. If you have finished your BA, I don't think they'd use any of the new grades in your GPA.

ETA: I'm basing this off the fact that another poster here had a college that didn't reflect the old grade on his transcript either and from what I remember, the old grades never were calculated in his GPA.

Hey all, I got my June LSAT score today, and am eager to get a clearer sense of my T14 chances. Here's the rundown on me:

Black female3.42 UGPA (upward trend and graduated cum laude) from HYPMaster's degree in Journalism from Columbia168 LSATSofts are pretty standard: College paper editor, leadership in cultural organizations. Beginning school in Fall 2010, I'd have a year of WE under my belt.

I'm interested in First Amendment/media law.

So what are my chances, applying for Fall 2010, at:

HarvardYaleStanfordColumbiaNYUDukeGeorgetownUChicagoUPennUVA

?

Thanks in advance for any insight, and suggestions of how I might make myself more palatable to the Top 3.

To Kirk and A. - Can I ask what's making you both say that? 'Cause people on other threads are considerably less optimistic, mainly about the T6, and I feel like my numbers don't really seem to warrant such optimism even with the AA boost. Am I missing something? Something about the softs maybe? [I'm trying to decide whether to bother retaking, so as much insight as you can give me on the strengths and weaknesses of my cause, the better.] Thank you!

Could I get some suggestions? Any hope at cracking the T14, Tulane or Howard? I read somewhere that in 2000, Michigan admitted 14 out of 23 AAs who scored between 151-153 with GPA's 3.0 and higher. Do I have that good of a chance?

AA Male3.0 UGPA (from Top 30)155 LSATLooking at D.C., New Orleans, and New York markets.Thanks.

To Kirk and A. - Can I ask what's making you both say that? 'Cause people on other threads are considerably less optimistic, mainly about the T6, and I feel like my numbers don't really seem to warrant such optimism even with the AA boost. Am I missing something? Something about the softs maybe? [I'm trying to decide whether to bother retaking, so as much insight as you can give me on the strengths and weaknesses of my cause, the better.] Thank you!

Retaking would be silly unless you want to go to Yale and even then you probably still wouldn't get in cause Yale doesn't like GPAs, (even for minorities) below at least a 3.75.

You have a 168, 3.4 from HYP and you're black...

Think about how many Blacks get a 165+ in a given year...under 100. Harvard has 50+ blacks in its class. Columbia too. I mean..you have a 168...there's what, probably about 30 Blacks who scored higher than you on the exam this year...maybe.

Then the 3.4 from HYP. Not great, but not a 3.2 or something that would negate the impact of your 168.

Look, the Black kids who scored higher than you are going to YLS, SLS, or HLS...and there will be plenty of spots in Harvard's class left over for you to get one and everywhere else in the t14.